The Native Food Garden at 477 Pitt Street is a transformative landscape intervention that revitalises a previously underutilised and inaccessible site into a vibrant, inclusive, and biodiverse urban sanctuary. Through sensitive and culturally informed design, the space has been reimagined to welcome all visitors, improve accessibility and encourage deeper engagement with the environment.

Since its establishment, the garden has flourished, with thriving native plantings creating an urban oasis that brings life and colour to the city. As the vegetation continues to mature, the space will offer increasing amenity through shade, shelter, and a sense of retreat enhancing comfort and connection for its users.

The garden goes beyond aesthetics to deliver a layered and meaningful experience. It fosters a deeper understanding of our relationship with the natural world and celebrates the richness of Australian Indigenous culturally significant plant species. The design facilitates cultural exchange and public education, bringing greater visibility to traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable practices.

Crucially, the garden is a living expression of Aboriginal custodianship and enduring care for Country. It sets a strong precedent for how urban landscapes can honour Indigenous perspectives while contributing to environmental and social wellbeing. Collaborating with First Nations knowledge holders, Aunty Barb Simms and Uncle Ray Davidson, helped embed deep cultural meaning into the planting strategy and spatial arrangement. Their guidance resulted in a biodiverse and climate-resilient landscape that reflects local ecosystems and supports ongoing cultural engagement with Country.

Blending food production, community gathering, and ecological restoration, the Native Food Garden offers a powerful, place-based vision for the future; one that is inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in Country. This submission highlights the success of the garden as a culturally significant and ecologically responsive space that exemplifies innovation in contemporary landscape design.

Photography by Blossom and Finch Photography